John Williams - Classical Guitar Virtuoso: Early Years 1958-61 (CD)

John Williams is one of the greatest classical guitarists of the modern era, introducing a previously highly specialist area of repertoire to a wider audience through his virtuoso expertise on the Spanish guitar. Guitar historian Graham Wade has stated that "John is the most technically accomplished guitarist the world has seen." Born in Australia in 1941, his family moved to the UK when he was 11, and having been taught by his guitarist father, he studied with Andres Segovia in Italy, before attending the Royal College of Music from 1956-59, and making his first performance at the Wigmore Hall in 1958. The first of these recordings was made very soon after that. This excellent value 2-CD collection comprises the complete contents of his first three solo LP releases, which were "Guitar Recital Vol. 1" and "Guitar Recital Vol. 2" for the Delyse label in 1958 and 1959, followed a couple of years later by "A Spanish Guitar" for the Westminster label.The selections performed feature two Bach Cello Suites transcribed by John Duarte, Twelve Preludes composed by Manuel Maria Ponce, a Sonatina by Federico Torroba, and a number of other individual pieces by those and other Spanish and Italian composers, including Domenico Scarlatti, Paquita Madriguera, Alexandre Tansman, Enrique Granados, Antonio Lauro and Andres Segovia himself. It is an absorbing and fascinating scene-setter for his illustrious career, showcasing his prodigious talent and mastery of his instrument even at this early stage.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Prelude (J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major BVW 1009)
2. Allemande (J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major BVW 1009)
3. Courante (J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major BVW 1009)
4. Sarabande (J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major BVW 1009)
5. Bourrées 1 ; 2 (J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major BVW 1009)
6. Gigue (J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major BVW 1009)
7. Torre Bermeja (Isaac Albéniz)
8. Three Mexican Popular Songs - la Pajarera, Por Ti Mi Corazón, la Valentina (Manuel Maria Ponce)
9. Etude No.1 in E minor Heitor Villa-Lobos
10. Norteña (Jorge Gomez Crespo)
11. Variations on a Catalan Folk Song Op.25 "Canco Del Llabre" (John Duarte)
12. Prelude (J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major BVW 1007)
13. Allemande (J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major BVW 1007)
14. Courante (J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major BVW 1007)
15. Sarabande (J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major BVW 1007)
16. Menuets 1;2 (J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major BVW 1007)
17. Gigue(J.S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major BVW 1007)
18. Sonata in E minor (Longo 352) (Domenico Scarlatti)
19. Gavotte (Alessandro Scarlatti)

Disc: 2

1. Variations of a Theme of Mozart, Op.9 'Das Klinget So Herrlich' (Fernando Sor)
2. Oracion (Andrés Segovia)
3. Estudio (Andrés Segovia)
4. Humorada (Paquita Madriguera)
5. Barcarolle (Alexandre Tansman)
6. La Maja de Goya (Enrique Granados)
7. Valse Criollo (Antonio Lauro)
8. Allegretto (Sonatina - Federico Moreno Torroba)
9. Andante (Sonatina - Federico Moreno Torroba)
10. Allegro (Sonatina - Federico Moreno Torroba)
11. Nocturno (Federico Moreno Torroba)
12. Fandaguillo (Suite Castellana - Federico Moreno Torroba)
13. Arcada (Suite Castellana - Federico Moreno Torroba)
14. Danza (Suite Castellana - Federico Moreno Torroba)
15. Valse (Manuel Maria Ponce)
16. Theme Varie Et Finale (Manuel Maria Ponce)
17. Prelude No. 1 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)
18. Prelude No. 2 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)
19. Prelude No. 3 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)
20. Prelude No. 4 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)
21. Prelude No. 5 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)
22. Prelude No. 6 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)
23. Prelude No. 7 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)
24. Prelude No. 8 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)
25. Prelude No. 9 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)
26. Prelude No. 10 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)
27. Prelude No. 11 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)
28. Prelude No. 12 (Twelve Preludes - Manuel Maria Ponce)